Evelyn
A ruddy face with permanent creases
With radiant smile of certain love and
Encouragement to every child
Her beaded forehead wrapped in frown
Observing every word and deed and murmur
Attentive to details of life and living in each of us
Egalitarian to nearly a fault
Unfailing in her gentleness
As she glided from desk to door and back again
As tho' it were a Minuet in E and she a Dame of Court
Footing deftly through space in time and rhythm
Full of grace and graciousness
She held my hand and spoke forgiveness for wrongs
In anger done and in kind love deposed
More learning than ever creased the pages of those
Sometime musty books she held in high esteem
As if the words and dabbled prints were sacred vellum
And slowly I began to understand the meaning of forgiveness
How it must begin within myself and remain in me for all of life
Forever
To flow outward and return again as nourishment for a troubled
Drowning in confusion and hurt and rejection
Some years later I could comprehend at last that I loved her
That I had bathed in the presence of Grande Esprit
One who could quite literally heal with the touch of her
Farm-and-family roughened hand on my cheek or brow
Through my reveries I have recounted endlessly the gifts and
Sacred Goodness sent my way without hesitation or condition
Or Expectation
Now as my life approaches certain end or albeit eternal change
For me as for each one of the children in that tiny school house
I am inclined to set my hand to write the these words
Through Prayerful tears
Remembering Evelyn
Preservation
Faith and Fate
Surreal and Real
Beginning and End
Death and Dying
Fools and Foolishness
A can of soup to warm in winter
A tree to hew at Christmas
Accepting Shame and Poverty
All of my Colors seen clearly now
The Crown of Sorrow laid aside
My heart released to fly away
Our Evelyn
I loved her